“I like walking into school and playing something that brings happiness to those who listen,” says Mirah Guzauskus, looking over two vastly different sized string instruments that she is trying to master. “Playing music gets me in the right mood, in the creative mind, the right headspace for an essay due in the next period for instance.” Mirah is February’s Music Student of the Month and is challenging herself across the music spectrum, also playing drums in a rock band that she hopes will have some songs ready by this summer.
“Ms. Wright even let me borrow an accordion! She helps me play the music I want to play, and with technical skills like positioning on the violin and bass,” Mirah says of strings music instructor Pamela Wright.
In selecting Mirah this month, Ms. Wright says, “Mirah is such a joy to have in class. She has her parts down and is also so very talented that she can pick up another instrument and be a part of the ensemble in different ways. Violin, piano and now string bass! Brava!!!”
“I’ll probably play music through college. I’d love to be a rockstar! It may not be the most stable career path but it could be fun,” jokes Mirah.
Congratulations to Mirah Guzauskus, February 2026 Music Student of the Month!
SAVE THE DATE: The Orcas high School band, strings and mariachi, along with the Orcas Choral Society and special guests, will be performing ‘live’ at MAG’s School Music Benefit Concert on Sunday, March 29 at 4 pm in the High School Gym. Please join us!
The Music Student of the Month series recognizes Orcas Island Public School musicians who work hard at their musical skills and whose love of music is an inspiration to their fellow student musicians. Thank you so much to the Orcas Island businesses who are sponsoring this monthly series throughout the 2024-25 school year that recognizes the efforts of student musicians and the value of school music!
–as published in Islands’ Sounder February 2026
Music Advocacy Group 